The year-long 50th Anniversary campaign will be a celebration of PIR’s relationships with its fans, community partners and the racing industry. Many of the greatest drivers to ever turn a lap on PIR’s one-mile oval, along with the brightest personalities in the track’s history, will be invited to return for race weekends and other events throughout the coming year.

“The 2014 season will truly be a magical one for Phoenix International Raceway as we celebrate our golden anniversary,” Sperber said. “Next year is all about our fans, our community and our shared passion for racing, and we are looking forward to a year-long celebration that recognizes our history and those that helped to create it.”

The 50th Anniversary celebration will feature a one-of-a-kind interactive and three-dimensional race weekend exhibit entitled Memory Lane, which will showcase the past 50 years of racing at PIR, including photos, artifacts and race-used memorabilia from drivers. The exhibit will also feature a number of classic cars with ties to the track and which, in some cases, actually raced at PIR.

Race fans will also see the 50th Anniversary theme incorporated in a number of ways over the next 13 months, including philanthropic and community outreach initiatives as well as special events throughout the year featuring noteworthy drivers and personalities. Plans also include commemorative publications and broadcast content; a year-long fan engagement program focused on the most influential people in the history of Phoenix International Raceway, as decided by a blue-ribbon panel of industry insiders, media and local officials; and world-class race weekend events and entertainment.

Phoenix International Raceway staged its first professional race on March 22, 1964 when, in front of a crowd of 7,000 spectators, A.J. Foyt led every lap on his way to victory in the Phoenix 100. The race track has evolved many times over the ensuing 50 years and has hosted races for virtually every major sanctioning body in American motor sports, including USAC, CART, Indy Car, Motocross and NASCAR.

Today, PIR is most well-known as the host for two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends annually. Phoenix stages the second race on the NASCAR calendar every spring immediately following the Daytona 500, the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500TM, and the semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the AdvoCare 500, each November.

More details related to the 50th Anniversary celebration will be announced on Friday, Nov. 8 during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at PIR.

Related PIR News

Kevin Harvick did something Sunday that no driver had ever done in the 52-year history of Phoenix International Raceway. The 39-year-old from Bakersfield, Calif. scored a victory in his fourth consecutive race in the same professional series at the legendary one-mile oval in the Arizona desert, leading 224 of 312 laps to win the CampingWorld.com 500.

Ruben Pardo earned his first NASCAR Mexico Series win at Phoenix International Raceway in the Toyota 120 on Friday. After starting on the pole, Pardo fell as low as 12th but fought back to the front in the late stages.

Pop music sensation Tori Kelly will perform the national anthem prior to the start of the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 15, highlighting the pre-race festivities. Kelly’s performance will be included in the live national television broadcast of the race on FOX at 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. Eastern).

Phoenix International Raceway is encouraging fans to prepare for race day traffic by arriving early and enjoying the full NASCAR experience during the CampingWorld.com 500 event weekend, March 13-15. In addition to the CampingWorld.com 500 on Sunday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. PST, the race weekend at PIR will include the Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m. PST and the Toyota 120 NASCAR Mexico Series race on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. PST.